Minister lauds city?s smart credentials

TOOWOOMBA is one of the regional powerhouses for the "Smart State" philosophy with "mind-blowing'' potential, State Development and Innovation minister Tony McGrady said yesterday.

Mr McGrady said not only were people wanting to live here, but industries like the city's world-class fibre composite facilities were putting Toowoomba on the map.

"You are sitting on one of the best places in Queensland. The potential is amazing," he said.

Mr McGrady yesterday inspected the University of Southern Queensland and local company Wagners' fibre composite facilities.

He praised Wagners, which recently won the prestigious New York 2005 Project of the Year ? Transport Category award, for being at the forefront of the global fibre composite manufacturing industry.

"Projects like this are the salvation of Queensland in the years ahead," he said.

"This is Smart State stuff. I think this is where places like Toowoomba really excel. The potential here is really mindblowing."

Asked why Toowoomba was leading the way he said: "Why not Toowoomba? You are so close to the capital, you have all the facilities, you have land, you have a skilled workforce, you have got people talking about moving here.